Page 31 of Thin Ice

James seemed to understand the need. “We’re up and completely operational here. Tegan’s brother made it across the border with the help of several of my people on the ground.”

Abby smiled despite what she was feeling inside. James had friends all over the country, thanks to the secret network he’d formed. Many of the people had worked with James in some form or another. Many had been exposed to Legion’s depravity.

“I’m sure glad we have you as part of the team. I can’t imagine where we’d be without you.”

James was quiet for a long time. “Everyone on the team is like my family. I’d do anything for you all.”

“I feel the same way,” she said quietly. “We’re all each other has, and we can’t afford to lose anyone else to this cause.” Too many innocents had given their lives already to Legion. Their sacrifice couldn’t be for nothing.

“He’s awake.”

Abby whirled to where Hannah knelt beside her brother. Brookes’s eyes were open. “I have to go. Brookes is awake. Keep praying. We need all the prayers we can get.” She wasn’t even aware of ending the call. She ran over to Brookes and dropped to her knees with tears stinging her eyes.

He slowly turned his head toward her.

“Welcome back,” she said and couldn’t stop smiling. “You had us worried.”

He struggled to get words out. “W…what happened?”

“You were shot while we were waiting for the helicopter to arrive. You went to meet your sister. Do you remember?”

He nodded slightly. “Hannah? Is she—?”

“I’m right here, brother.”

Brookes turned to his sister. “I’m glad. I thought for sure they’d kill you.”

Hannah shook her head. “I’m too stubborn to die. Snake and I got you in the car. Then the Cavalry arrived.” She winked at Abby, and Brookes focused on her face once more.

“I had the strangest dream about you,” he murmured almost to himself.

“Before you start telling us about your wild dreams, let me take a look at your injury,” Hannah told him. “Thanks to Chris and Oliver, the two medics onboard the chopper, we stitched you up as best we could. Once we reach the new headquarters, we’ll remove the bullet.” She replaced the old bandage with a clean one. “Now, you can tell Abby about your dream.” Hannah smiled at her brother and stood. She moved away. Abby found herself wanting to hear everything about Brookes’s dream.

???

He gazed at her pretty face, though ravaged by tears for him. Brookes thought she looked different somehow. Battle weary for sure, but different. Resolute almost.

“What’s this dream?” She asked with a smile on her face.

In his mind, he’d died. No doubt about it. Though maybe not physically, he’d died and was given a second chance. The dream showed him what the future could look like. Someday.

He held her gaze. “There was this cabin. Not a big one but big enough. And the view. . . oh, Abby, you should have seen the view outside the front porch. All colors of wildflowers grew in a rolling pasture. And there were the mountains.” He stopped because saying the rest was hard. “I don’t think I could ever tire of looking at those mountains.”

She squeezed his hand. “It sounds perfect.”

“It was.” He stared deep into her blue eyes. Whether she was ready or not, he was. And he’d wait for her until she was. “And you were there.” He waited for her to say something, but she couldn’t because she was crying again. “And we had two beautiful kids.”

A sob escaped and she leaned down and framed his face with her hands and kissed him so earnestly that it made his dream seem a bit more possible.

She lay down beside him on the floor with her hand still holding his. “Tell me more,” she managed with her voice clogged by tears.

He chuckled and then grabbed his chest. “Don’t make me laugh, okay?”

She glanced sideways at him and ran her free hand across his chin. “Okay.”

“I think it was Montana, or maybe Wyoming,” he continued. “But all I know is the cabin didn’t have a neighbor for miles. Just me and you and our family.” He gazed at her. She’d started crying again, but it was okay. Tears of joy.

“Tell me what I’ve missed.” He glanced around the chopper’s interior. “How did I end up in this bad boy?”

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